Construction work on Brighton seafront’s i360 to begin next week

Construction work on the i360 tower in Brighton seafront is set to start next week.

The 600-foot tower, which is being created by Marks Barfield – the firm behind the London Eye, will be the tallest visitor attraction in the UK outside the capital.

As contractors gathered this week ahead of work starting, those behind the giant observation tower said they were confident it would be a success after opening in 2016.

But some still remain sceptical claiming the £46.2 million project, most of which is funded by a public loan, is a waste of money.

David Marks and Julia Barfield, creators of the Brighton i360 and the London Eye, said, “We have the opportunity to create something truly unique and of international renown here in Brighton and Hove.

“We are excited to be working again with this top team and we are all look forward to seeing the opening of the attraction in summer 2016.”

The Brighton i360 will see a pod 18-metres in diameter carry up to 200 people at any one time 138 metres into the air.

The attraction will also include a restaurant, retail shop, exhibition space and conference facilities at beach level.

It will be run by Brighton i360 Ltd, who’s CEO is tourism expert Eleanor Harris.

Tony Camilleri, managing director of JT Mackley, which is based just outside Brighton and will work on the project, said: “We are very much looking forward to bringing our local knowledge and coastal experience to the project and to working with this international team on what will become a world famous landmark.”

The project has seen £6 million investment from developer Marks Barfield and a further £4 million from the Coast To Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Brighton and Hove City Council will draw down the remainder of the sum through a government agency called the Public Works Loans Board.

This means the local authority can borrow funds and lend on to the developer of the i360 at a commercial interest rate.

The council then receives a higher rate of interest than it pays the loans board, thereby earning nearly £1 million per year for the city.

The loan would be repaid over 25 years but could potentially be repaid sooner if the attraction is very successful.

Work started on removing some of the debris from the West Pier last month.

This has seen the removal of a pillbox dating back to World War two.

Conservationists are unhappy that more wasn’t done to protect the historic structure.

The main structure will be brought to Brighton Beach in containers and see cranes erect each segment one at a time.

But not everyone is convinced.

Speaking about the project as a whole, Valerie Paynter, of campaign group Save Hove, previously said: “The idea of a viewing platform is hackneyed and old hat. There’s already one down the coast in Weymouth. People don’t fall for that kind of thing anymore.

“To cap it all the security on the loan from Brighton is the tower itself, so if it fails for any reason the city will have to repay the loan. It will be a huge white elephant, with interest payable on it.”